Gettysburg in the Fall

[theoldman]

I envy you folks who live close enough to Gettysburg to visit so often. (Except in the summer when so many tourist are there.) When I lived in Wilmington, NC I walked aroud Fort Fisher frequently. It was easy to visualize the war ships off shore with flame pouring out of the mouths of their cannon. Not quite comparable to Gettysburg, I know, but still a similar feeling and experience.

 

[pamc153PA]

We're staying there from Nov. 5-8 and we cannot wait.
Do we drive in from Steinwehr or Baltimore Street?

I'd say Baltimore because then you don't have to cross traffic (though traffic won't be that big of a deal in November).

 

[pamc153PA]

I envy you folks who live close enough to Gettysburg to visit so often. (Except in the summer when so many tourist are there.) When I lived in Wilmington, NC I walked aroud Fort Fisher frequently. It was easy to visualize the war ships off shore with flame pouring out of the mouths of their cannon. Not quite comparable to Gettysburg, I know, but still a similar feeling and experience.

Up until a couple years ago, I got out there about 4 times a year. The last 2 years, I've been going out once a month, and more like 2-3 times a month in the summer when school is out. I have really begun to finally know the battlefield well--where even the out of the way places are, how to get from here to there quickly, the battle-related places not on the battlefield, etc. I have been able to connect those things and places to the specifics about the battle itself, which has made it so much more clear to me.

One huge thing I have done that has helped, besides visiting often, is to walk the field. Learning the topography by foot, seeing things the way the soldiers did, falling over rocks and squishing through marshy ground like they did--that has helped me immensely. I know I am lucky to be able to get out there so often to experience it that way.

 

[James N.]

Hope to be there on the 9th. of Nov. Any suggestions where to stay?
Leaves will just about be gone by then.

Expired Image Removed

Battlefield B&B is just off the Emmitsburg Road immediately south of and adjoining South Cavalry Field; the main house ( above ) dates before the war and was used by Gen. Wesley Merritt as quarters the night of July 3; the barn served as a hospital for a dozen of his wounded. I stayed there for the first time this August and was very happy with it. ( And there's a 1st Texas Room for those of us with Confederate sensibilities! ) It's out in the country, so very quiet, with a tasty leisurely breakfast; yet it's only a few minutes' drive to downtown.

 

[pamc153PA]

Oh, I also wanted to say that, although the battle took place in the middle of summer, one has to experience every season on the battlefield to really know it. In the summer, you see and feel what the soldiers did (humidity, ticks, sticker bushes), but in the fall when things die back, you can see the "skeleton" of the ground the battlefield is on in a way that is hidden by greenery in the summer. In winter, you can do more of the same, and also experience a sense of isolation with the "ghosts" of the men who fought (and died) there. When spring arrives, you look forward to the beauty of the redbuds and the spring wild flowers, which doesn't seem to fit into the somberness of the place, but reminds you that life goes on.

 

[Mary763]

We're staying there from Nov. 5-8 and we cannot wait.
Do we drive in from Steinwehr or Baltimore Street?

I have taken Route 15 to Baltimore then turn onto Steinwehr. Usually, I use Route 30 and turn on to Baltimore then Steinwehr and come in that way. It's a matter of preference and my GPS's mood. =)

 

[JerseyBart]

I have taken Route 15 to Baltimore then turn onto Steinwehr. Usually, I use Route 30 and turn on to Baltimore then Steinwehr and come in that way. It's a matter of preference and my GPS's mood. =)

Thank you for the advice Pam and Mary.

 

[Northern Light]

Oh, I also wanted to say that, although the battle took place in the middle of summer, one has to experience every season on the battlefield to really know it. In the summer, you see and feel what the soldiers did (humidity, ticks, sticker bushes), but in the fall when things die back, you can see the "skeleton" of the ground the battlefield is on in a way that is hidden by greenery in the summer. In winter, you can do more of the same, and also experience a sense of isolation with the "ghosts" of the men who fought (and died) there. When spring arrives, you look forward to the beauty of the redbuds and the spring wild flowers, which doesn't seem to fit into the somberness of the place, but reminds you that life goes on.

That would be so great to see it in all four seasons, and to walk the battlefield. My sister has a disability which does not allow for too much walking so we are limited in what we can do, but I would love to see more of the actual ground, especially to walk across the field of Pickett's charge.

 

[pamc153PA]

That would be so great to see it in all four seasons, and to walk the battlefield. My sister has a disability which does not allow for too much walking so we are limited in what we can do, but I would love to see more of the actual ground, especially to walk across the field of Pickett's charge.

The Pickett's Charge field isn't really too hard to walk. They usually have paths moved across, but it isn't paved or leveled, so it would be difficult for someone who has difficulty walking. You can't really get a good idea of the swales and the distance unless you walk across sometime.

 

[Nathanb1]

That would be so great to see it in all four seasons, and to walk the battlefield. My sister has a disability which does not allow for too much walking so we are limited in what we can do, but I would love to see more of the actual ground, especially to walk across the field of Pickett's charge.

Maybe you could hire a guide--who will drive, in fact, and who could talk the Virginia monument and the beginning of the charge, then she could get back in the car and you could walk and meet them on the other side. Meantime, she'll have heard all the intervening stuff, and you can get the big conclusion from the guide. Just a thought!

 

[Nathanb1]

Gettysburg in the fall.....sheesh. I had a pecan fall on my head yesterday. Does that even count? Nah.

Fall around here is sort of a non-issue. I'm so jealous I just turned bright green.

 

[Drew]

Battlefield B&B is just off the Emmitsburg Road immediately south of and adjoining South Cavalry Field; the main house ( above ) dates before the war and was used by Gen. Wesley Merritt as quarters the night of July 3; the barn served as a hospital for a dozen on his wounded. I stayed there for the first time this August and was very happy with it. ( And there's a 1st Texas Room for those of us with Confederate sensibilities! ) It's out in the country, so very quiet, with a tasty leisurely breakfast; yet it's only a few minutes' drive to downtown.

James, thank you for this. I didn't know about it. My grandmother's grand dad was a veteran of the 1st Texas Infantry Regiment, Hood's Brigade! I want to take my brother's kids to Gettysburg over the next year or so - we'll look for this place. Thanks again!

 

[James N.]

James, thank you for this. I didn't know about it. My grandmother's grand dad was a veteran of the 1st Texas Infantry Regiment, Hood's Brigade! I want to take my brother's kids to Gettysburg over the next year or so - we'll look for this place. Thanks again!

The only thing I didn't like about it ( minor ) was that only the stone house part ( the Wesley Merritt Suite ) is old; the rest has been built onto it much more recently and is very nice! All the rooms have themes - others include Union artillery and U.S. Dragoons - and are clean and quiet. There are even a couple of rooms in the lower part of the big bank barn that was used as a hospital! One very unusual feature, though, is an hour-long talk by a local historian in the public area before breakfast every morning that the kids might enjoy.

 

[James N.]

That would be so great to see it in all four seasons, and to walk the battlefield. My sister has a disability which does not allow for too much walking so we are limited in what we can do, but I would love to see more of the actual ground, especially to walk across the field of Pickett's charge.

This is a sort of tongue-in-cheek recommendation, but there's always the segue tours! Silly as it looks, a group "mounted" on those things passed us while we were around the Codori Farm.

 

[Northern Light]

This is a sort of tongue-in-cheek recommendation, but there's always the segue tours! Silly as it looks, a group "mounted" on those things passed us while we were around the Codori Farm.

We thought about that, but decided we would be laughing too hard and would likely fall off and do ourselves an injury.

 

[JerseyBart]

We thought about that, but decided we would be laughing too hard and would likely fall off and do ourselves an injury.

How about http://gettypeds.net?

 

[Northern Light]

How about http://gettypeds.net?

Now that is cool!

 

[JerseyBart]

Now that is cool!

My wife and I used a coop two years ago...pretty cool to ride around Gettysburg in one, and it got her to tour the battlefield with me.

 

[JEB]

I'm doing a tour tomorrow ! Can't wait . I'm lucky to be able to stay with friends .

My group is staying at a B&B so I'll meet them there for breakfast .

 

[ole]

How about http://gettypeds.net?

Can one take them off road?